A challenging trip lies ahead for the boys today as they will have to cross a variety of mountains in the Andean ountain range.
The Andes Mountains is the mountainous spine which dramatically dissects South America in two from north to south, crossing seven countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The continent’s most magnificent natural attraction stretches for over 7,500km – from Venezuela all the way to Patagonia – and has spawned, in one way or another, the continent’s incredible natural biodiversity.
The largest gold mine in the world is Peru’s Yanacocha, and both Chile and Peru combine to produce almost half of the world’s mined copper.
Latest estimates project that yet-to-be discovered copper deposits in the Andes could total a gobsmacking 750 million metric tonnes, along with 13,000 tonnes of gold, 250,000 tonnes of silver and 20 million tonnes of molybdenum, which is a mineral used to harden steel.
Soon the boys found out that these monster mountains are not for the faint hearted as they manoeuvred Lipstick through endless serpentines up on one side and down on the other side – only to repeat the same with the next mountain in their way . The depth of the valley next to the road is sometimes 1500-2000m deep with no barriers available to prevent an accidental descent to hell.
The original plan was to stay over in Cusco but with a bit of research the guys decided that Ollyantombo would be better.
Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture.
Ollantaytambois surrounded by mountains, and the main access routes run along the Urubamba Valley; there, the Incas built roads connecting the site with Machu Picchu to the west and Pisaqto the east. During the Spanish conquest of Peru, emperor Manco Inca fortified the eastern approaches to fend off Spanish attacks from Cusco during the Battle of Ollantaytambo.
Team Lipstick found a lovely B & B owned by a German couple from Frankfurt and decided tostay over for 2 nights and make their way to Machu Piccu the following Day